Fire-escape



(No Modelf) J MARTIN.

PIRE ESCAPE No. 495,503. Patented Apr. 18,1893.

YN: mams PETERS co. PHoToUTNu, WASH Maron UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JI-IAN MARTIN, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,503, dated April 18, 1893. Application filed January 16, 1893. Serial No. l58,608. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHAN MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has reference to that class of fire-escapes in which are employed ropes and pulleys' connected with suitable brackets or other similar stationary objects secured to a window or other portion of a building, and baskets or other suitable receptacles attached to the ropes so that they may be elevated to the desired height to receive any inmates of the burning building and lower them to the ground.

The object of the invention is to improve this class of iire escapes whereby more security is obtained, its operation rendered simple to inexperienced persons, and its effectiveness materially enhanced.

The above objects I attain by the construction shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed. v

Figure 1 of the the drawings represents a perspective view of my invention showing the complete apparatus in operation; Fig. 2 a detail view on an enlarged scale of one of the clamping devices for holding the bracket t0 the building; Fig. 3 a sectional view on an enlarged scale of one of the receptacles for containing the persons escaping from the burning building.

In the accompanying drawings A represents a suitable bracket pivoted to an upright bar B which has at its ends outwardly extending iianges a to form stops for the clamps used to connect the bar with its pivoted bracket to the building. These clamps are preferably two in number and consist of the jaws C D, the former being provided with a screw-rod E with means for turning it and a guide-arm F. The jaw D. of the clamp is movable with relation to the jaw C and operated by means of the screw-rod E which engages a screw threaded hole in the jaw which jaw is guided in its movement upon the arm F. The jaws at their outer ends have flanges b which extend at right angles thereto as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, these flanges being in length equal to the thickness of the barB so that when in position to hold the bar the ends of the jaws will be supported by the flanges coming in contact and bearing against the side of the building.

To the bracket A is connected a suitable pulley c or in case it is not desirable to use the bracket and but one of the clamps as a substitute therefor, the pulley may be connected with such clamp, as shown in Fig. 2. A rope G of suitable strength is passed around the pulley c and extends around pulleys d c which are connected to suitable stakes f driven in the ground. The rope G has a plurality of ilexible loops g which are a suitable distance apart throughout the length of said rope, and the blocks carrying the pulleys over which the rope passes are of sufficient size to allow the required space between them and the pulleys for the easy passage of the rope with its loops.

The receptacles for containing the persons to be lowered to the ground or any goods taken from the building, are shown at I-I and maybe of any desirable material and of any preferred size and shape found best adapted to the purpose. Thesereceptaclesareprovidedwithsuitable hails 7L and hooks il to engage with any one of the loops g on the rope, any number of these receptacles being used as circumstances require.

y The receptacles I-I have a sectional hinged cover I which may be provided with vent openings t' so that when closed to prevent the hot cinders or other heated material from falling into it, the occupants will not be cut off from sui'iicient air to sustain life. The interior of the receptacles are provided with either a flexible or rigid ladder J for convenience of the person descending into the receptacle. The covers of the receptacles are also important when valuables are contained thereimas when closed suoli valuables are protected from both tire and water.

A supplemental rope or cord may be connected to one of the loops as shown in dotted lines to be used by young persons to slide down from the windows and may be attached to the IOG loops by snap-hooks or other suitable and Well known means.

Manychanges or modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the principle thereof, and I reserve the right to make any such changes as would come within ordinary mechanical skill.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a nre-escape, a suitable bracket or other like device adapted for attachment to a building and provided witha pulley, of a hoistingrope and one or more receptacles having a ladder upon the interior and a sectional cover, 1'5 substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the aboveI have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHAN MARTIN.

Witnesses:

C. O. HERVEY, GEO. V. KOENIG. 

